Political ecology and resilience: competing interdisciplinarities?

Both “political ecology” and “resilience” (or socio-ecological systems) are research approaches that explicitly claim to be inter- or even post-disciplinary. Both of these “interdisciplines” are currently dominant in academic study of society-environment interactions, engaging sizeable communities of students and scholars drawn from a range of traditional disciplines. Both approaches seeks to facilitate the kinds of boundary crossings that are crucial at the interface of nature and society, leading to new insights and knowledge, and to solving problems that are not contained within the boundaries. Yet there are inevitably pressures to “discipline” the new “interdisciplines”. In the case of political ecology and resilience, each has separate intellectual traditions, with some fundamental differences in purpose, in epistemology, in explanatory tools, and in ideology – illustrating that there are multiple ways of being interdisciplinary. This chapter explores these differences and reflects on the meaning of interdisciplinarity

A comparative study on quality characteristics of cookies incorporated with roasted chicory powder and inulin as sugar replacers

Consumer demand is increasing for low-calorie, high-fibre functional foods. Cookies are considered better for functional ingredient incorporation as it is in ready-to-consume form with good shelf life and they have gained extensive consumer preference. The current study was undertaken to formulate cookies with the incorporation of roasted chicory powder and inulin, and to compare the nutritional profile as well as physical properties of the cookies. The roasted chicory powder was incorporated in 5, 10, and 15% levels and inulin was incorporated in the levels of 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 75, and 100% replacing sugar in butter cookies and multigrain cookies. The cookies were evaluated for sensory attributes, nutrient profile and physical properties. The cookies with 5% roasted chicory powder and 50% inulin as sugar replacers were organoleptically accepted. Inulin incorporation had a tremendous impact on the fibre content of the product. But the addition of chicory in the cookies resulted in a better nutrient profile apart from increasing the fibre content considerably. Studying the physical properties of the cookies, inulin/chicory incorporation resulted in a significant increase in the spread ratio

Effect of germination on selected phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is a pseudo-cereal native of the Andean region of South America and has gained importance due to its potentially good nutrient content and natural antioxidants. In this research undertaking, quinoa seeds were subjected to germination and subsequent tray drying at 40ºC to study the changes in polyphenols, tannins, saponins and antioxidant activity during different germination stages. The total phenolic content (TPC) of germinated quinoa samples ranged from 150.8±2.26 mg GAE/100 g to 171.2±1.69 mg GAE/100 g with the highest value for the 48 h germinated sample. The total tannin content was highest (343±1.41 mg TA/100 g) in raw sample which decreased by 14% during 48 h of germination. Total saponin content decreased from 1.597 g SE/100 g to 0.938 g SE/100 g during 48 h germination. There was a significant two-fold increase in digestible starch during germination. The antioxidant activity was determined using 3 methods: DPPH scavenging activity, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and ABTS reducing capacity. The DPPH scavenging activity of the germinated sample was found to have increased by 7.5% compared to the raw sample. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the 48 h germinated sample was found to be higher than the standard ascorbic acid. The antioxidant activity of 48 h germinated sample determined by FRAP (412.85 mg AAE/100 g) accounts for a 48.68% increase. The % ABTS reducing capacity of 48 h germinated sample was 86.65% higher than the raw quinoa seeds. Germination of quinoa improved the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of quinoa seeds and decreased the saponin content. Germinated quinoa can be ideally used in functional food formulations

Survey On Smart Energy Management System For ATM Using IOT

The shortage of resources in the present world is motivating many towards energy efficient technologies. Most notably, there is an increasing demand for electricity, hence it needs to be used optimally. To sustain the living of human beings electricity is the most important inventions. So, proper utilization of this resource is of immense importance to us. Though many technological innovations are taking place in this world, existing electricity consumption is soaring great heights. Also with the advent of digital banking in India the number of ATMs is increasing rapidly. In this paper we present a newly designed smart energy management meter for ATMs based on cheap distributed components like microcontroller architecture and sensors working on the concept of Internet of Things. This system aims at monitoring the energy consumption within ATMs using web application and mobile application and reduces the operational cost. It also monitors power tampering at ATMs by sending an alert message to the owner upon crossing the threshold

Living with Alien invasives

Un certain nombre d’arbres australiens - en particulier acacias et eucalyptus - ont été cultivés dans de vastes zones de l’Afrique du Sud pour l’industrie forestière. Au cours des dernières années, ces plantations ont été beaucoup discutées en raison de leur impact supposé sur les ressources en eau et sur la biodiversité autochtone. Dans l’ère post-apartheid, les politiques gouvernementales de lutte contre la pauvreté ont de manière paradoxale poussé les Noirs pauvres des zones rurales à se livrer à la fois à l’arrachage de ces arbres exotiques envahissants avides d’eau, tout en encourageant les gens à les planter dans de petites plantations dans le cadre de programmes d’émancipation économique de ces mêmes Noirs. Cet article étudie comment une telle situation paradoxale s’est mise en place, et quels sont ses impacts sur les paysages ruraux comme sur les moyens de subsistance campagnards en utilisant le cas de l’acacia noir (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.), dans le highveld de l’Est de la province de Mpumalanga. Il retrace l’évolution de discours stratégiques entrant en concurrence les uns avec les autres (environnementaux, industriels forestiers, économiques paysans) et présente une étude de cas de leurs impacts sur les paysages locaux et sur les moyens de subsistance des populations locales.A number of Australian trees – particularly acacias (’wattles’ or ’mimosas’) and eucalypts – have been cultivated over large areas of South Africa for the forest industry. They have become quite controversial in recent years for their alleged impacts on water resources and native biodiversity. In post-Apartheid South Africa, government poverty alleviation policies paradoxically engage poor rural blacks to both rip out these water-hungry ‘alien invasive’ trees while also encouraging people to plant them in small-scale plantations as part of black economic empowerment. This paper investigates how such a paradoxical situation arises and its impacts on specific rural landscapes and livelihoods, using the case of the black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) in the eastern highveld of Mpumalanga province. It traces the development of competing policy discourses (environmental, forest industry, rural livelihoods) and presents a case study of their impacts on local landscapes and livelihoods

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STEM BIOMASS AND VOLUME OF Pinus caribaea IN THE YAGIRALA FOREST RESERVE

The biomass is an important measurement in commercial forestry maintained to producepulp, paper, chips, fuel wood products etc. The estimation of the biomass of the tree is notan easy task and few studies were carried out so far.The present study was conducted in the 25 years old Pinus caribaea plantation in YagiralaForest Reserve, which is in the low country wet zone. According to the geographicaldifferences in the plantation, i.e., valley, slopes and ridge, stratified random sampling wascarried out and two 0.05 ha circular plots were established in each stratum. Altogether 6plots were used for the data collection.The diameter at breast height (dbh), total height were measured for all the trees in theseplots and after dividing the tree stem into several sections, the length and end and middiameters of each section was measured using the Spiegel relaskop.The volume of the stem was estimated by calculating section volumes. Smalian's andNewton's formula were used to estimate the section volumes except for the final section atthe top, which was assumed as a cone. In order to save time, one plot was measured forNewton's formula and the rest was measured for Smalian's formula. Then a relationshipwas build to estimate Newton's volume (Ne) using Smalian's volume (Sm) as theexplanatory variable (equation I). The R2value was 99.9%.Ne = 0.976 * Sm (1)Biomass of the tree was estimated by extracting core samples at the breast height and midheight of the tree. The density of the core samples were estimated using oven dry weightand the green volume of the core samples. When tested, there was no significant differenceof the density along the stem. Therefore stem biomass was estimated using the density atthe breast height, and the total stem volume. Also there was no significant densitydifferences between three sites.The regression analysis was used with the pooled data to find out the relationship betweenthe stem biomass (W) and the volume (V). Using variable of stem volume and the biomassand its tranformations developed the several models. The best model was selected bychecking the R2 value, standard residual distribution, modelling efficiency and bias. Thebest rclationshin for the hiOI1l;]SS :l1lrl YOIIl"lr ,,·:1< lhr rnll:l1;nn ') whir]' h·w 02 .... 1.. " n

Effectiveness of VIA, Pap, and HPV DNA Testing in a Cervical Cancer Screening Program in a Peri-Urban Community in Andhra Pradesh, India

BACKGROUND: While many studies have compared the efficacy of Pap cytology, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA assays for the detection cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer, few have evaluated the program effectiveness. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A population-based sample of 5603 women from Medchal Mandal in Andhra Pradesh, India were invited to participate in a study comparing Pap cytology, VIA, and HPV DNA screening for the detection of CIN3+. Participation in primary screening and all subsequent follow-up visits was rigorously tracked. A 20% random sample of all women screened, in addition to all women with a positive screening test result underwent colposcopy with directed biopsy for final diagnosis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were adjusted for verification bias. HPV testing had a higher sensitivity (100%) and specificity (90.6%) compared to Pap cytology (sensitivity  =  78.2%; specificity = 86.0%) and VIA (sensitivity = 31.6%; specificity = 87.5%). Since 58% of the sample refused involvement and another 28% refused colposcopy or biopsy, we estimated that potentially 87.6% of the total underlying cases of CIN3 and cancer may have been missed due to program failures. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that despite our use of available resources, infrastructure, and guidelines for cervical cancer screening implementation in resource limited areas, community participation and non-compliance remain the major obstacles to successful reduction in cervical cancer mortality in this Indian population. HPV DNA testing was both more sensitive and specific than Pap cytology and VIA. The use of a less invasive and more user-friendly primary screening strategy (such as self-collected swabs for HPV DNA testing) may be required to achieve the coverage necessary for effective reduction in cervical cancer mortality

The pitfalls of plural valuation

This paper critically examines the current political context in which valuation studies of nature are undertaken. It challenges the belief that somehow, more and technically better valuation will drive the societal change toward more just and sustainable futures. Instead, we argue that current and proposed valuation practices risk to continue to overrepresent the values of those who hold power and dominate the valuation space, and to perpetuate the discrimination of the views and values of nondominant stakeholders. In tackling this politically sensitive issue, we define a political typology of valuations, making explicit the roles of power and discrimination. This is done to provide valuation professionals and other actors with a simple framework to determine if valuation actions and activities are constructive, inclusive, resolve injustices and enable systemic change, or rather entrench the status quo or aggravate existing injustices. The objective is to buttress actors in their decisions to support, accept, improve, oppose, or reject such valuations

The Influence of L-Carnitine on Oxidative Modification of LDL In Vitro

Owing to their structure and function, low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) are particularly susceptible to the oxidative modifications. To prevent against oxidative modification of LDL, L-carnitine, with endogenous small water-soluble quaternary amine possessing antioxidative properties, was used. The aim of this paper was to prove the in vitro influence of L-carnitine on the degree of oxidative modification of the lipid part (estimated by conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, and malondialdehyde levels) and the protein part (estimated by dityrosine and tryptophan levels) of LDL native and oxidized by cooper ions. The level of lipophylic LDL antioxidant—α-tocopherol was also measured

The pitfalls of plural valuation

This paper critically examines the current political context in which valuation studies of nature are undertaken. It challenges the belief that somehow, more and technically better valuation will drive the societal change toward more just and sustainable futures. Instead, we argue that current and proposed valuation practices risk to continue to overrepresent the values of those who hold power and dominate the valuation space, and to perpetuate the discrimination of the views and values of nondominant stakeholders. In tackling this politically sensitive issue, we define a political typology of valuations, making explicit the roles of power and discrimination. This is done to provide valuation professionals and other actors with a simple framework to determine if valuation actions and activities are constructive, inclusive, resolve injustices and enable systemic change, or rather entrench the status quo or aggravate existing injustices. The objective is to buttress actors in their decisions to support, accept, improve, oppose, or reject such valuations